System and method for controlling machines to perform earthmoving operations

Abstract

A method of generating a cost estimate for performing one or more earthmoving operations at a worksite includes receiving, at a controller, a plurality of files indicative of a structural design corresponding to a structure selected from a plurality of structures, a geographical data of the worksite, and at least one operational variable associated with the worksite. The at least one operational variable varies based on the geographical data of the worksite. The method also includes generating, by the controller, at least one of the cost estimate for performing the one or more earthmoving operations at the worksite and an instruction file to autonomously perform the one or more earthmoving operations at the worksite. The cost estimate is displayed to a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for autonomously controlling a plurality of work machines at a worksite to perform earthmoving operations comprising:
 processing circuitry configured to
 process an electronically selected package of earthmoving operations to be performed at the worksite autonomously by a set of the plurality of work machines toward building a predetermined physical structure; and 
 control circuitry operative to wirelessly communicate with the processing circuitry and configured to
 receive an instruction file to autonomously control the set of the plurality of work machines according to the electronically selected package of earthmoving operations toward building the predetermined physical structure, and 
 process the instruction file to autonomously control the set of the plurality of work machines according to the electronically selected package of earthmoving operations toward building the predetermined physical structure, 
 
 wherein the processed instruction file includes machine operation instructions for the set of the plurality of work machines to autonomously perform the selected package of earthmoving operations at the worksite. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to output to the control circuitry the instruction file to control the set of the plurality of work machines according to the electronically selected package of earthmoving operations toward building the predetermined physical structure. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the selected package of earthmoving operations is a complete package of machine control operations for the set of the plurality of work machines to perform the earthmoving operations toward building the predetermined physical structure. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the set of the plurality of work machines is less than an entirety of the plurality of work machines. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is distributed across the set of the plurality of work machines. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface to receive an electronic selection of the package of earthmoving operations to be performed by the set of the plurality of work machines. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to process the instruction file to control the set of the plurality of work machines to autonomously perform the package of earthmoving operations. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the instruction file is created from a database of work machines having a capability to autonomously perform one or more portions of the package of earthmoving operations. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a display to display information regarding the autonomously control of the set of the plurality of work machines according to the electronically selected package of earthmoving operations toward building the predetermined physical structure. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the instruction file is a predefined format readable by each of the set of work machines of the plurality of work machines. 
     
     
         11 . A method for autonomously controlling a plurality of work machines at a worksite to perform earthmoving operations comprising:
 processing an electronically selected package of earthmoving operations to be performed at the worksite autonomously by a set of the plurality of work machines toward building a predetermined physical structure;   wirelessly electronically receiving an instruction file to autonomously control the set of the plurality of work machines according to the electronically selected package of earthmoving operations toward building the predetermined physical structure; and   electronically processing the instruction file to autonomously control the set of the plurality of work machines according to the electronically selected package of earthmoving operations toward building the predetermined physical structure,   wherein the processed instruction file includes machine operation instructions for the set of the plurality of work machines to autonomously perform the selected package of earthmoving operations at the worksite.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising outputting the instruction file to control the set of the plurality of work machines according to the electronically selected package of earthmoving operations toward building the predetermined physical structure. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the selected package of earthmoving operations is a complete package of machine control operations for the set of the plurality of work machines to perform the earthmoving operations toward building the predetermined physical structure. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the set of the plurality of work machines is less than an entirety of the plurality of work machines. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the electronically processing the instruction file to autonomously control the set of the plurality of work machines according to the electronically selected package of earthmoving operations toward building the predetermined physical structure is performed according to a control distribution across the set of the plurality of work machines. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising receiving, via a user interface, an electronic selection of the package of earthmoving operations to be performed by the set of the plurality of work machines. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the instruction file is processed to control the set of the plurality of work machines to autonomously perform the package of earthmoving operations. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the instruction file is created from a database of work machines having a capability to autonomously perform one or more portions of the package of earthmoving operations. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising displaying, on a display, information regarding the autonomously control of the set of the plurality of work machines according to the electronically selected package of earthmoving operations toward building the predetermined physical structure. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the instruction file is a predefined format readable by each of the set of work machines of the plurality of work machines.